10 Marvel Deaths That the MCU Should Change After Avengers: Secret Wars

by

Following Kevin Feige’s confirmation that the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) will experience a significant overhaul post-“Avengers: Secret Wars,” we can’t predict with certainty what the series will transform into after 2027. In fact, Feige hinted at the possibility of bringing back iconic characters like Tony Stark and Steve Rogers, played by new actors, which was considered impossible in the MCU up until now. Post-“Secret Wars,” the MCU won’t resemble its current form at all.

In the MCU, if there’s a desire to introduce a fresh timeline and resurrect characters like Stark and Rogers who have sadly passed away, the current moment might be perfect for reintroducing certain characters from the initial five Phases of this series. These characters never really had their moment in the sun as much as they should have. A post-Secret Wars overhaul could offer a chance to undo these 10 Marvel deaths and welcome these characters back into the MCU.

1) Ajak from Eternals

In the film “Eternals,” directed by Chloe Zhao, movie icon Salma Hayek was asked to accept or reject the role of Ajak without first reading the script. Despite this, Hayek chose to join the production, only to find that her character met an early demise in the storyline. Ajak, who serves as the apparent leader of The Eternals, was portrayed in a lengthy third-act flashback as having been killed by Ikraris. With the possibility of Hayek returning to the role or not, it’s suggested that Ajak be brought back and given more significant tasks. Additionally, it might be wise for future Ajak actors to review the character’s story before agreeing to participate in the project.

2) Maya Hansen from Iron Man 3 

In the creation of the 2013 film “Iron Man 3”, the character Maya Hansen, played by Rebecca Hall, underwent significant changes. Initially planned as the primary antagonist, she was later reduced to a minor role due to worries from toy manufacturers about marketing action figures of a female villain. Now, in this new phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s high time that Maya Hansen gets her deserved spotlight to make up for being sidelined in “Iron Man 3”.

3) The Warriors Three from Thor

In the first two Thor films, Asgard and Thor’s companions, The Warriors Three (Volstagg, Hogun, and Fandral), were not heavily featured. Consequently, they didn’t get much screen time before meeting their untimely demise in Thor: Ragnarok. Now that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has delved more into its flamboyant side, there could be a lot of excitement in reintroducing this trio. This is because they had a lot of unexplored potential during their initial appearances.

4) Obadiah Stane from Iron Man

Initially, Obadiah Stane (played by Jeff Bridges) was intended to survive the first Iron Man movie and appear in several Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) productions. However, similar to many aspects of the original Iron Man script, Stane’s destiny shifted as filming evolved. Although the MCU has managed without his return thus far, it might be intriguing to witness a significantly different version of the character emerge as a menacing adversary across multiple movies post-Secret Wars. In summary, Obadiah Stane could potentially serve as a recurring villain in future films.

5) Mysterio from Spider-Man: Far From Home

Far From Home, Quentin Beck/Mysterio (played by Jake Gyllenhaal) was killed by his own drones. However, since Mysterio has often been a persistent adversary for Spider-Man in the comics, there’s a possibility that he might return in the post-Secret Wars universe.

6) Gilgamesh from Eternals

To engage viewers with a group of characters who are essentially divine beings, the Marvel Cinematic Universe series Eternals unexpectedly eliminated several of its main characters. Among them was Don Lee’s Gilgamesh, whose vibrant screen presence made him a standout. Gilgamesh’s fascinating character, with his contrasting traits (a tough guy who enjoys cooking and listening to Merle Haggard), makes it hard to believe that he would only appear once in the MCU.

7) The Howling Commandos from Captain America: The First Avenger

In the 1940s period film Captain America: The First Avenger, characters like Dum-Dum Dugan (Neal McDonough) and his Howling Commandos have not been physically present in any other MCU movies, except for some Agent Carter episodes and a single Carter One-Shot. They’ve essentially taken a backseat in the MCU. It would be exciting to see them return in a fresh MCU timeline, ideally giving them an opportunity to interact with their comics counterpart, Nick Fury.

8) Jane Foster from Thor

In “Thor: The Dark World,” Jane Foster largely spent her time asleep, infected with an Infinity Stone. In her return for “Thor: Love and Thunder,” she was hampered by weak screenwriting and a somewhat confusing portrayal of Natalie Portman. Jane Foster deserved more in her Marvel Cinematic Universe appearances. Despite being sent to Valhalla at the end of “Love and Thunder,” potential changes following “Secret Wars” continuity upheavals could provide an opportunity for her to return and finally have significant roles within this franchise.

9) Natasha Romanoff/ Black Widow from The Avengers (among many others)

Despite starring in numerous Marvel Cinematic Universe productions from “Iron Man 2” in 2010 to “Black Widow” in 2021, the character Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) frequently suffered from script decisions that limited her on-screen presence. Reviving her post-“Secret Wars” would offer a fresh interpretation of the role by a new actor, and it could also expand her character’s depth as she evolves into a respected figure in this narrative saga.

10) Kang the Conqueror from Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

Here’s one way to rephrase the given text while maintaining its original meaning and making it easier to read:

In the past, there was a discussion about bringing back Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror, but that idea has already passed, and it’s more productive to focus on new possibilities. Nevertheless, it would be exciting to explore a reimagined Kang in a post-Secret Wars universe, with a compelling villainous character. The version of Kang presented in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania was lacking in clear motivations and personality, likely due to the intention to leave room for future MCU movies like Avengers: The Kang Dynasty to flesh out his backstory. Instead, let’s create a fresh portrayal of Kang that boasts a well-defined character and vibrant personality, rather than solely serving as a setup for upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe blockbusters. There is a lot of potential in this concept: the existence of Kang doesn’t hinge solely on Majors.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and other MCU movies and TV shows are now streaming on Disney+.

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/mcu-new-black-panther-eyes-of-wakanda-explained/embed/#

Read More

2025-08-02 02:10